On this page: • Our minister • Short History • Black Lives Matter • Hall Hire • Church Policies • Charities supported • Links
This is me…….
Hello – I’m Sue Fender, the new Minister of The Linked Pastorate, a group of five United Reformed Church churches in Bassingbourn, Buntingford, Fowlmere, Great Chishill and Melbourn.
I am married to Alex, who is a piano tuner/technician, and we have two adult children living in West Yorkshire and Newcastle upon Tyne.
At 18 I attended the London College of Furniture and trained as a Piano Tuner Technician. Music is a huge part of my life. I am able to play the piano and clarinet but confess I enjoy listening to music far more than performing it. Attending live music concerts is high on the list of things I have missed most during the pandemic and lockdowns. From musical theatre to a rock concert, chamber music to a full sized orchestra, I embrace it all.
For those of you familiar with film, you might recognise that the words at the top of this as being from The Greatest Showman. I love a good drama, at the cinema or on television and enjoy the engagement of popular culture and theology. I was really enjoying watching Shakespeare, live from the Globe beamed to our local cinema before the lockdown!
My hobbies include swimming and working with stained glass.
Faith matters…
I grew up within the United Reformed Church, having been baptised as an infant in the Congregational Church.
In 2005, after many years working as an office manager in a primary school I felt God calling me to something new. I began studying for a degree in Religious Studies with a view to becoming and RE Teacher, but in 2007 received a call to Ministry and trained at Westminster College in Cambridge. I have served as Minister in South Wales and in the NE of England and am delighted to have been called to minister to the Linked Pastorate.
I believe that church communities should be always open and inclusive to all, regardless of gender, culture or sexuality. We are open each Sunday for worship at 11.00 am and we hope it will not be too long before we can return to a programme of community events.
I look forward to welcoming you into our church and getting to know you. If you see me out and about, please do stop me and say hello!
Every blessing
Sue
History records that following the restoration of King Charles II and the various Acts of Parliament of 1662, non-conformity grew rapidly in this area and a number of small non-conforming groups were recorded e.g. at Bassingbourn, Litlington and at Meldreth.
As they were fugitive and illegal these groups kept few records, but more is known of them following the Act of Toleration of 1689. Then reference is made to a group meeting at Meldreth, which subsequently appears to have moved to Melbourn. In 1694 they formed a church and in 1716 this church purchased land in Orchard Road for the erection of a place of worship. There is a letter addressed to the Bishop of Ely and dated 20 July 1717 which says “There is lately erected a house of burial in Melbourn in the County of Cambridgeshire by Protestant Dissenters on purpose to meet together to worship God”.
The front of the present building was reconstructed in 1815, and at the same time the lantern (cupola) was added, completing a lovely specimen of early 19th century non-conformist architecture.
In the second half of the 19th century the church erected a larger building (seating up to 800) on land opposite, now the burial ground, and used the older building for Sunday School work. However growing costs of maintenance and changing patterns of the mid 20th century faced the church with problems. After careful study it was decided to demolish the newer Victorian chapel, and to restore the Old Meeting House as a place of worship. This work began in 1954. The cupola was re-built but reserving the character of the original. The organ (from the newer chapel) was re-built. Every effort was made to preserve the character of the original.
The building, as you see it, today is used every week for worship but over the years the church has changed its name. Beginning with the Independent Meeting House it then became the Congregational Church and in 1972 the United Reformed Church came into being with the union of the Congregationalists and Presbyterians.
A more detailed history of the church can be found in a booklet created by Rev. Reginald Rooke. Click here to download it [PDF reader required]
Many of us have been deeply troubled by the events in the US that have led to the global “Black Lives Matter” movement. It is sad that in the 21st century we are still plagued by the ongoing menace of racism. This is not just a remote issue affecting faraway places. Within our own society most people of an ethnic minority background will experience prejudice and disadvantage, purely because of the way they look. As Christians we find this abhorrent and altogether unacceptable.
URC Youth made the following statement: “We hope to affirm our commitment to being anti-racist and will take this opportunity to consciously examine our own practices to see where we can do better.” At Melbourn URC we echo this statement, advocating for acceptance of all peoples and reject all forms of action that differentiate based on racial backgrounds. We will work to examine what we can do better and ensure that inclusion is enshrined in our culture within the church. Watch-out for more to come on this topic.
What does the bible say about racism?
Galatians 3:28 NIV
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
John 7:24 NIV
Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly."
Matthew 28:19 NIV
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
It is our philosophy to be open and transparent about what we do and how we go about it. With that in mind we have created a policies page where we hope, you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Craft and chat also supports numerous other charities.
https://www.facebook.com/MelbournURC/
The Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church (http://www.urc-eastern.org.uk/)
The United Reformed Church (http://www.urc.org.uk/)
Christ Church, Buntingford (http://www.buntingfordurc.org.uk/)
Baptist Church, Melbourn (http://www.melbourn-baptist.org.uk/)
Holy Trinity Parish Church, Meldreth (https://allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk/)